nordstjernan The Swedish Newspaper of America
Published by Swedish News. Volume 144 No. 21, December 15, 2016. Price per copy $2.50
Namnsdagar. Grattis HRH Prince Oscar, about to experience his first namnsdag on Dec. 1.
Photo: Kate Gabor, The Royal Court, Sweden
This Week, Page 16
December in Sweden is bedecked with light in the winter darkness, sending warmth from the windows of homes, stores and businesses everywhere—a season of light and joy in spite of darkness.
Photo: Marie Andersson/Skansen
Sweden, Page 2, 3
The world’s biggest straw goat goes up in flames / more arson for a Swedish artist’s work / Some school test results show improvement / Students caught for cheating could go to jail / Housing hopes continue to fall short / Alcohol related to cancer deaths / TV personality joins the ranks of those accused of racism.
From the publisher, Page 3
On fellowship, joy, policies and resolutions.
Food, Page 6
Homage to the ubiquitous, delicious Swedish Christmas ham, julskinkan.
The Legacy of Jenny Lind Kitty Hughes guest@nordstjernan.com
Page 8
Food, Page 8
Make your dreams come true with these recipes for leftover holiday food
Feature, Page 19
An explainer on why the popular dish was so tempting to Jansson ...
Dashboard, Page 16,17
Julbordet, the Christmas table
Near and dear to every Swedish heart is the julbord, the smörgåsbord of Christmas food, the holiday feast that is highly anticipated every year. The julbord (literally “Christmas table”), which probably started with herring possibly hundreds of years ago, eventually grew with the additions of hard cheeses and breads, fish and vegetables, and by the end of the 1800s was dominated by pork – ribs, sausages of all kinds, and of course ham. We all have our favorites, but every last dish, glass of snaps and bite of marzipan play an important role in the julbord; though many would say the star of the dinner table may be the Pages 5-8, 19 julskinka, the Swedish Christmas ham.
One thing you didn’t know about the Arctic Circle / The Ice Hotel is open (early) and year-round / In every issue: Names Days, sunrise and sunset times in Sweden, Herr & Fru / A skinny Santa can ride a straw reindeer / H&M gets clever for Christmas
Sports, Page 30
Statuesque and surprising: The Zlatan achieves a status that humbles even him.
Page 19
Photo: Christer Berg
First Jenny Lind Theatre on 29 October 1850 (second building to the right) Parade in Portsmouth Plaza to celebrate California’s admission into Union. Lithograph by J. Prendergast from Bancroft Library, UC Berkeley.
Photo: David castor
Many people walking by the interpretive marker in San Francisco have no inkling of Jenny Lind’s “rock star” fame, which the American press of the time dubbed “Lind Mania.” Still fewer would know that the Bancroft Library on the Berkeley campus of the University of California has photos revealing the celebratory spirit and civic pride of 1850 and the women in gowns and men in coattails transfixed by the newly constructed theatre in 1852. Jenny Lind, “the Swedish Nightingale” as she was known, was one of the most highly regarded opera singers of the 19th century, performing in soprano roles in Sweden and across Europe. She was admired by various composers, including Chopin and Mendelssohn, and revered by the public, who flocked to her performances Continued on page 9